New York’s anti-Trump sticky notes head for museum preservation

NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A historical group on Friday began preserving thousands of sticky notes placed on the walls of a busy New York subway station over the past month to lament the election of Donald Trump as the next US president.Distraught and defiant residents and visitors to the United States’ largest city -- long a Democratic and liberal stronghold -- have stuck anonymous messages on the walls of Manhattan’s Union Square station since Trump’s Nov. 8 victory. Many of the notes express grief

Dec. 19, 2016

Paris exhibit celebrates UNESCO heritage site of Palmyra

PARIS (AP) -- Days after the Islamic State group seized back control of the ancient Syrian town of Palmyra, a prescient exhibit was inaugurated in Paris on Tuesday that aims to educate the public on the wounded wonder that Syrians affectionately call the ``Bride of the Desert.‘’ 　Its organizers said the display opening Wednesday is designed to be an ``emotional‘’ experience that takes visitors to Palmyra and other endangered world heritage sites in the Middle East. It‘s also meant to show how mu

Dec. 14, 2016

CICI announces Korea Image Awards recipients

The Corea Image Communication Institute will honor South Korean golfer Pak Se-ri, AlphaGo artificial intelligence and KwangJuYo Chairman Cho Tae-Kwon at its upcoming 13th annual awards ceremony CICI Korea Image Awards 2017. 　The Korea Image Awards are given by CICI, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting a positive image of Korea. It recognizes people and entities that best represent the country and its culture. South Korean golfer Pak Se-ri (CICI)　Former professional golfer Pak, who an

Dec. 13, 2016

India’s colonial-era opera house restored to past glory

MUMBAI (AFP) – India’s only surviving opera house has been restored to its colonial-era glory, reopening to the public more than two decades after it closed in disrepair. Once the place to be seen for Mumbai’s great and good it was forced to close in the 1990s after years of financial struggles. But a painstaking seven-year project has transformed the century-old building in Mumbai from a crumbling wreck in danger of collapse to an ornate replica of its 1916 glory days, albeit with some importan

Dec. 11, 2016

France opens new Lascaux prehistoric art cave replica

MONTIGNAC, France (AFP) -- A new replica of the stunning Lascaux cave paintings was unveiled Saturday in the Dordogne region of southwest France, more than seven decades after the prehistoric art was first discovered.“This is more than a copy, it’s a work of art!” said French President Francois Hollande as he visited the center in Montignac, the village at the foot of the hills where the original cave complex is located.The new project dubbed “Lascaux 4,” which opens to the public on Thursday, a

Dec. 11, 2016

Dylan expresses awe over Nobel Prize, alludes to Shakespeare

STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Bob Dylan has expressed awe at receiving the Nobel Prize in literature and thanked the Swedish Academy for including him among the “giants” of writing.Dylan was absent from Saturday’s award ceremony and banquet in Stockholm. But in remarks read by the US ambassador, he alluded to the debate about whether the award should go to a songwriter.Dylan said when Shakespeare wrote “Hamlet,” he probably was thinking about which actors to pick and where to find a skull.In his words: “I’m

Dec. 11, 2016

[Travel Bits] Upcoming festivals, travel news

Everland Romantic IlluminationsEverland’s Romantic Illumination festival is continuing its celebrations until March 1 with beautiful and enchanting illuminations for a romantic and memorable holiday season.The festival will feature an extravagant 26-meter-high Romantic Tower Tree, which will be displayed at the fountain area between Four Seasons Garden and Rose Garden. The hollowed out Christmas tree tower can accommodate up to 50 people.The tree’s interior showers the visitors with enchanting l

Dec. 9, 2016

Blast Theory wins Nam June Paik Art Center Prize

Artist group Blast Theory has won the 2016 Nam June Paik Art Center Prize, the art institution announced Wednesday.The UK-based group, formed in 1991 by Matt Adams, Ju Row Farr and Nick Tandavanitj, uses new forms of performance and technology that engage audiences both online and offline through digital broadcasts and live performances. 　The group is known for its experimental and interdisciplinary works such as “Operation Black Antler,” a 2016 live performance inviting audiences to participate

Dec. 7, 2016

[Foreigners Who Loved Korea] Paul Yu Pin, the Roman Catholic Cardinal Who Supported the Korean Independence Movement

In late December 1945, when the issue of trusteeship over Korea became a political issue a mere two months after the Korean Provisional Government returned to the country, KPG President Kim Gu introduced the Roman Catholic bishop Paul Yu Pin to the Korean people through a newspaper article. Virtually unknown to Koreans, Yu was a great contributor to the Korean independence movement.Unknown Chinese supporter of the Korean independence movementThe following is quoted from the Dong-a Ilbo article f

Dec. 6, 2016

International push aims to protect endangered heritage

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AFP) - Representatives from dozens of countries gathered in Abu Dhabi on Friday to focus on setting up a $100 million fund to protect and restore heritage sites threatened by extremism and conflict.The two-day conference reflects growing international alarm over the destruction of ancient artifacts by Islamic State group jihadists using sledgehammers, bulldozers and explosives.Another key aim is to establish “refuge zones” around the globe for endangered works of

Dec. 4, 2016

[Weekender] The art of writing in spotlight again

The rapid adoption of digital devices in recent years is reshaping the concept of writing. A growing number of people view writing as a synonym of typing on PC or taking notes on their smartphones. For tech-savvy people, a traditional pen is nothing but an outdated and inconvenient tool. But this tech-oriented perspective is yet to convert the growing group of calligraphy enthusiasts with a penchant for beautiful writing. Calligraphy is making a comeback in Korea. Signs in favor of what people h

Dec. 2, 2016

[Weekender] Hangeul calligraphy goes mainstream

There was a time when Chinese character calligraphers criticized Hangeul calligraphy for being “too unsophisticated.” Luckily, a few calligraphers ignored the comments and mastered their craft in Hangeul, the Korean alphabet. Looking back, they served as the trailblazers for the now-burgeoning market for Hangeul calligraphy.“Years ago, the term ‘Hangeul calligraphy’ was virtually nonexistent among graphic designers,” Kang Byung-in, one of the first-generation Hangul calligraphy gurus, told The K

Dec. 2, 2016

[Eye Interview] Head full of dreams, feet on the ground

The music video for British rock band Coldplay’s track “Up & Up,” released last year from the album “A Head Full of Dreams,” has been described as “magical.”The video features a montage of moving images that transform the everyday into extraordinary scenes. Synchronized swimmers dance inside a teacup, while a green kitchen sponge becomes a football field for tiny players. Popcorn is popped from the crater of a volcano. The sky is the sea; the earth becomes a stage.Music video director Vania Heym

Dec. 2, 2016

[Weekender] Beautiful writing goes beyond words

Nestled in the design books section of Kyobo Book Center in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, calligraphy workbooks are displayed in a separate stall as a special collection.　According to Kyobo Book Center, calligraphy books began gaining traction since 2012, with the number of new publications and demand for them steadily growing each year.A reader flicks through books in the calligraphy section of Kyobo Book Centre in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. (Lim Jeong-yeo / The Korea Herald)In 2013, eight new books on calligra

Dec. 2, 2016